Pitcher



Aug. 7, 1951 F. J. VAZZANO PITCHER Filed April 4, 1950 (25 2a i J,

IN V EN TOR.

FRANK J VAZZANO Patented Aug. 7, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE PITCHERY Frank J. Vazzano, Nichols, Conn. Application April 4, 1950, Serial 0. 153,77 9

1 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in receptacles and has particular relation to a pitcher for use in the making of ice water, iced tea and the like and for containing the liquid until the same is poured and used.'

An object of the invention is to provide a pitcher adapted to have liquid poured therefrom and also adapted to have ice formed therein and into. which receptacle water or other liquid, as tea, may be poured to be cooled by the ice and from which the iced liquid may be poured in the usual manner.

Another object is to provide a pitcher or pouring receptacle of the character indicated which is substantially completely closed while in a refrigerator or while in use and which is made up of but a few parts readily and permanently assem bled for use.

Claims. (01. ext-14s) Other objects and advantages of the invention 7 will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in con nection with the accompanying. drawing wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed butincludes all such variations and modifica-. tions as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view showing the complete pitcher of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional View through the same; the view being. taken as along the line 2 2 of Fig 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional viewv through the pitcher, the view being taken as along the plane of the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but taken along the plane of the line 4 -4 of Fig. 1. Y

Referring in detail to the drawing, my improved pitcher comprises a rectangular body generally designated Ill including. a bottom wall; H and side walls l2, l3, l4 and I5. Wall 15 may also be described as a front wall and through.

the upper edge portion thereof is a pouringopene ing l6 and fast with the wall, in position to receive liquid moving out through said pouring,

opening, is a pouring spout l .1

Integral with the bottom wall ll are a pair. of dividing plates l8-and l 9. These plates at their ends are also integral with the walls 13 and I5.

These plates [8 and I9 are relatively shallowandthin and serve to dividethe lowerport'ion of the body l0 into three equal or. substantially e ua compartmentszll,2|.andl22 I Integral with the end portions of the upper edge of thedividing plate is and also integral with. the body walls Hand-l5 are ribs or extension's 23 and 24. Similar and equal size ribs 25 and 2.6 are integral with the end portions of the upper edges of the plate l9 and with adjacentportions of the walls [3 and I5. ribs areof thesame height.

Within thebody l0 and resting on the upper ends of plateextensions or ribs 23; 24,25 and 26 is a bifurcated or U-shaped tray or receptacle open at its upperside generally designated 27;

All of these This tray 27 includes a bottom wall comprising arm portions 28 and 29 and a connecting portion. 30 and upstanding from said bottom wall. is. a side wall comprising outer portions 3|, 32 and 33.

and a spaced pair, of, suchportions 3e andv 35. In addition, such upstandingwallincludes a U- shaped portion comprising side. or arm portions 36 and 31 and a connecting portion 38.

Thetrayis of such size, and shape as to have a relatively snug fit into the'receptacle so that under surfaces of the bottom wall of the tray will.

rest onthe upper ends of theyribs or extensions 23,24, 25 enact-whim the outer side wall portions M of the tray engage inner surface portions of said wallsiof the body. Thus, outer sidewall portion 3| of the tray is against side wall I 2 of the. body while side wall portion 32 of theltray is against the inner surface of wall [3 of the body, side wall portion 33 of the tray is against the inner surface of side wall [f the body and spaced side wall portions 35 and 35 of the tray are against spaced portions of the inner surface of the body side wall l5.

With this construction, itwill be understood The upper edge of the front wall [5 of the body.

extends higher than therear wall I3 thereof and the forward portions of the side walls [2 and id are higher thanthe-rear portions of such walls. This is as fully illustrated in Fig. 1. The upper sideof the hollow. body or receptacle I0 is permanentlyqclosed by a. covenstructure generally d sismued 3.9T.

Such cover structure includes upper plate-like move through the pouring opening as the ice is portion 40, an intermediately downwardly informed in large portions.

clined plate-like portion 4| and a rear plate-like In fact, if the ice does float loose, more rapid DOrtiOIl 42 in a plane below b parallel With h cooling action is obtained since then all surfaces of the v r p r n 40. h h s pp r ov 5 of the ice are exposed to the liquid. It is addiportion is desi ned to lie against th upper edg tlonally pointed out that the tray being conof the various side walls of the body. structed in the shape shown, in any pouring ac- Depending from this upper cover portion is a tion, liquid in the lower portion of the receptacle rather shallow flange 43 telescopically received may pass outwardly along the'zinnejrsurface of at the inner sides of the mentioned side walls of the wall l5 through the openin between the the bod and these flanges are adhered or bondtray portions 36 and 31 to the pouring opening ed to contacted portions of the body walls while, 7 I6 and thence the pouring spout ll. Thus, the the upper cover portion 40, 4| and 42 is similarly. tray does not interfere with pouring from the connected with the upper edges of the side walls receptacle. of the body. It is intended that the entire pitcherpm It 7 is contemplated that the present pitcher .be made of a suitable plastic and the cover may will be molded of a suitable plastic and such be secured in place by adhesive or through the plastic may be transparent or colored to suit. use of heat to soften portions of the cover and The pitcher is a special purpose pitcher and when body while in engagementto have them fuse or not in use may be left in the refrigerator and bond together. W is given the rectangular shape shown to have it Extending upwardly from cover portion 42 t'0' better fit within a refrigerator. Essentially, wards the rear end of the latter is ahollow postif molded, it comprises but the body, tray and like part 43 and extending between said part and cover and the stopper 46. While it is preferred integral therewith and with the cover portion to a e t of plas because o t lightness d 4| is a strap-like portion 44 having a hand or'fln other attractive features, it will be understood ger receiving opening 45 therethrough. Thus, that I am not limited to a pitcher manufactured this portion 44 forms a handle by means of which j of such materials. the pitcher may be carried, manipulated for The Wo plasti Wh used herein & desigpouring, etc. 7 v I} nate a material is employed for the purpose of Hollow post-like portion 43, provides a filling identifying the various materials commercially opening. This portion is open verti l y identified as plastic and the word is not used in through both ts ends whereby liquid may be relation to chemical or mechanical characterispoured into the pitcher through said portion tics of the material. When the present pitcher is not being filled, the Having thu t forth the nature Of y invenopening through portion 43 is closed as by 21. tIc S: stopper 46.

is poured through post-like portion 43 and falls] op through the pp p rtion of a side wall. into the connecting portion, of the tray .21. & p0111'ing p ut to receive'liqu moving o this connection it will be understood that the. w y through a pouring p p s hollow post 43 is in the longitudinal center line said bottom wall and extending v t y thereof the cover and thus midway bet een th ide from and dividing the lower portion of said body edges of the cover.

As. the liquid continues to be poured lnto'the having their upp r ds ab v th upp r edges pitcher, the tray 21 becomes filled and then theigs of said p tes, a tray o a Size to fit nto Said overflow from the tray moves over the wall pore, body, Said y being D d having its tions as, 31 and as into the" bottom central com connecting portion against a Well of the d partment 2 w a compartment becomes' and its open portion between the free ends of its' filled, water overflows the upper edges r the di s against the body wall having th pourin viding plates I8 and I9 until compartmentsjZll .50 Opening therethroughnaiclosure Spanmng the and 22 are filled. At this point, the pouring of 1 end of Said bodifand permenenilyeeeledin,

liquid into the receptacle is stopped. Nowthe. Place closing the upper end of Said body a stopper 46 is positioned and the receptacle placed ing hand1e rigid With said closure dt e in the freezing compartment of a refrigerator or L havmg fillmg Openmg therethmugh 111 S the like whereby to freeze the liquid which has '55 position that liquid enfiermg Said e.

through said filling opemng enters the connect- L been poured into the receptacle. 1

The ice so formed remains in the receptacle and the receptacle may remain in the refrigerator until iced drinks are to be served. At such time, water, tea, etc., is poured in through'the between the zm r of h tray 11.1w t passage in the postdike portion 43 fining 1 compartments in the lower portion of the body. lower portion of the receptacle and filling the same up to approximately the bottom end one outlet opemng m the upper edge portlogegf' 5' tions ofsaid bottom wall, one of said end walls the from Wall of the bodyhaving apouring opening through its upper edge With the described construction, it will be seen; '1 portion, a pouring spout o said wan to receive ing portion of said U-shaped tray, and said U- shape of tray providing means whereby when the tray is filled with liquid the overflow moves erally' rectangular bottom Wall and upstanding that the upper Surfaces of the in; moving outwardly through said va ou Compartments 2| and 22 d he upopening, dividing plates integral at their lower edges with said bottom wall and integral at their to this liquid which has been introduced where ends with said end walls and dividing the lower per surfaces of ice in the tray are all exposed by h latter w be pi ly -cooled.. .A's the portion of said body into compartments, ribs on pitcher is tilted to pour, even though I the ice said end walls and having their upper ends above may have become loosenedfrom the traybr'from 1. In a pitcher, a hollow body including bot- I When the present pitcher is to be used, water o a d Wal said body hav g a p into compartments, ribs on said sidewalls and 2. In a pitcher, a hollow body includinga gen- I V side and end walls integral with the edge po'r' the upper edges of saidplates, a tray in said J the compartments and tend to float. -it-cannot j body and resting on the upper'ends of said ribs.

said tray having outer walls contacting with the inner surfaces of said end and side walls of the body, said tray having a slot opening through its bottom and front wall, a vertical wall about the edges of said slot whereby said tray is open at its upper side and comprises a bifurcated receptacle, a closure spanning the upper end of said body and permanently sealed in place closing such body end, said closure having a filling opening therethrough in vertical alignment with said tray whereby liquid entering the receptacle through said filling opening fills said tray and then spills over said vertical wall and through the slot in the tray to fill said lower compartments.

3. In a pitcher, a hollow body including bottom and side walls, a pouring opening through one of said side walls, a pouring spout to receive liquid passing out through said pouring opening, means dividing the lower portion of said body into a series of compartments, a tray supported in said body above said means, a filling opening in said body and through which liquid may be poured into said tray, and means whereby overflow from said tray passes into said compartments.

4. In a pitcher, a hollow body including bottom and side walls, a pouring opening through one of said side walls, a pouring spout to receive liquid passing out through said pouring opening, means dividing the lower portion of said body into a series of compartments, a tray supported in said body above said means, a filling opening in said body and through which liquid may be poured into said tray, means whereby overflow from said tray passes into said compartments, a cover per= manently secured to the upper portions of said side walls and. closing the upper side of said body, and a handle rigid with said cover.

5. The pitcher as in claim 4 wherein each of said body, tray and cover comprises an integral piece of a lightweight plastic material.

FRANK J. VAZZANO.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

